Snow remover



INVENTOR.

H. scHMl-rz SNOW REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f 542?? ze f/s Taffy BY l June 28, 1949.

Filed Feb. 21, i948 June 28, 1949. H. SCHMITZ 2,474,759

SNOW REMOVER Filed Feb. 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2V Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED 0,1?"FIC-l' SNOW REMOYER Harry A Shintm Brooklyn, l N. Y.

ApplicatonfFebrualty 21, 19.48, SerialNo. 10,001

(Cl.,Z19-.1,9.)

y5.,(Iflai1y1`ris. 1 This invention relates ,to snow .removing apparatus, and the inventionhas reference, r more particularly, to that type of snowremovingapparatus which effects removal by `melting the snow.

The invention has for an object toprovide a novel construction of snow melting apparatus which comprises a hollow walled ,rotary y,drinn or cylinder adapted to contain a content,of lquid, such e. gas water, andwhich includesv elec,- trical means for raising the temperatureof ,Such content, wherebyfthe heat thereof maybeitransferred through .the external `w alls,of :the .drum or cylinder, as-.the latter isrOIledupOnthe snow,

so as to effect melting of the snow contacted thereby.

AThe invention hasfor a further objecttoprovide a rotary drum orcylindercharacterized vas above stated, including means `to ,support the same for rolling traction over `sn o,vv,..andfill-ther including means for `serving currentfto the ,electrical heater devicesfwith-which the interiorof the drum or cylinder is provided.

Gtherobjects of this invention, rnot .at ythis time more particularly enumerated,.will;be understood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

An illustrative, embodiment of theinventionis shown in the accompanying drawingsinwhich:

Fig. lis a side elevational View of oneillustrative form of snow melting ,apparatusincluding the heated rotary drum or cy1inder,. as -arranged to be propelled byan automotive vehicle over snow desired to be removed;Fig.- 2is .avertical sectional View .taken on line 2-..2 in Fig. ,1, l

Vtially, a hollow walled drum or cylinder-'D formed oy an external wall lli, an inter-nal wall/II land connecting end .walls ,|2, wherebyv tov provide ,a

.closed chamber I3, intermediatesaid external internal walls, concentric to theaxis of said .drum or cylinder. The, spacing of said` external ,and .internal `walls it ,Slltll as ,t0 `Plnlltlt a @helnivtly Shallow lndlel dllnnson- The drum 0r @vllntltflllay btlflllltedfn llgth ,nndlilanntnc-,it Slilttltle-tOltnnlnnttituln'lne to which it is to be put; in other "words, itsrnay te man@ 0f @Qmparntlvtly large Slne.-.$lll`tab1e tfr read nl {Sttnt' .Clearing .ins-e and-adapted ',tt be propelled by anautomotive ,vehicle for lthe like, Q1 lt ,may Ytt Intlltoffrelatlvely .smell sin@ ,Sultableforsisle 4Walkttln'fl'tln ,Snnit Clearing lne ,and .enacted t0 .te lnttnelle'd ty -llnnd- Tnt :Clnlln tf ,Cy der vls ,ln-ntl@ .from -lnetalllc material, l and .it ,printf.ntly nltvlflttllwltn Wells-,0f nsllttleftllltkness as possibleV without involving |`rislno'tinjury .cr defnrtnttltn in llSe- Tne fslruln ,01 ,tyllntltt ,Chamber l?, .lll llStf .it supplied .with a content of liquid, such le. g. l. as

water lt. The @turn Qr'nrllnderls nrQYldtd-With a -Snitanly ,lnnttd but lnnrlntlllv ftlosdlllll'mg vtiallv .Supplied-to,.tnenhamttr.1 3 SnnlY-,Slnn es ,will allow ifOr expansion thtrenf nntltl ,-.nlnll'll heat, so that, whenheated A,andIexpanded, v the same `will f then substantially. llftlle tllnlnbnr l3- Meansto Sn determine 'the .initial Supplynf is `provided by .n suitably located ,but normally .closednverflow means l- -Ffne nwrllQW means l is-,preferably in'thefflormof asuitablwtypeof safety valve which, when Opened during the s cated, electrical4 heater devices. Each said-,heater device comprisesv a, carrier Iplate l1 upon 4which is mounted Va base. plate i8 made of electrical.v insulation` material. `Supported on saidinsulating base platei, byzitsfoot piece I,9 is ,an electrically conductive positive terminal :bracket 1.29; and, similarly, supported on .said insulating-,loase plate l'8, byits foot piece 2lis.an..electrically conductive negative terminalbracket-Zl .Said positive and negative terminal tbrackets are spaced apart iniopposed relation. fThe-positive terminal bracket 20 is securedto-the insulating baseplate i8 and carrier plate l'l'by vfastening bolt and nut means V423 which is insulated ,from

.the latter, and which, in addition to its allixing lffunction, .also servesas anelectricallyvconduc- -tive binding post. Inlke mannen-the Ynegative terminal bracket 22 is secured to the insulating base plate It and carrier plate I7 by a fastening bolt and nut means 24 which is insulated from the latter, and which, in addition to its aiiixing function, also serves as an electrically conductive binding post. Extending from the positive terminal 29 toward but short of the opposite negative terminal bracket 22 are a plurality of spaced positive electrodes 25; and, similarly, extending from the negative terminal bracket toward but short of the positive terminal bracket Ztl are a plurality of negative electrodes 26. Said electrodes and 2t are preferably formed by metallic rods of low conductive resistance, such e. g. as copper rods. The positive and negative electrodes 25 and l are arranged in spaced apart alternated relation, so as to be separated by the water content of the drum or cylinder chamber .by which they are surrounded. If desired, the free ends of the respective electrodes 25 and 26 may be supported, against vibration and risk of breakage, by blocks 2l' of insulating material which are suitably mounted on the inner faces of the respective terminal brackets 2 and 22 (see Fig. 4).

The internal wall ll of the drum or cylinder is provided with openings or hatchways through which the heating devices may be passed for operative disposition within the chamber i3; the carrier plates Il' of said heating devices being adapted to serve as closures for said openings or hatchways, and to this end being secured to said internal wall il of the drum or cylinder by fastening bolts 28.

A desired number of the heater devices are arranged in suitably grouped relation around the interior of the chamber E3. Preferably two or more longitudinally spaced groups of said heater devices are provided; with those of each group equi-spaced circumferentially around the chamber interior. Means, hereinafter more particularly described, is provided for serving operating current to said heater devices.

Means is provided for mounting the drum or cylinder so that it may revolve about its axis. Means for this purpose is, of course, subject to wide variation in kind and detail construction. One illustrative arrangement suitable for the purpose, as shown, is provided by a framework comprising longitudinal side members 29 and connecting transverse members 30. Fixed on said side members 29 are supporting pedestals or blocks 3i which support a non-rotatable transverse shaft 32. To mount the drum or cylinder for rotation about the axis of shaft 32, stationary bearing members 33 are provided to journal the respective ends of the drum or cylinder for such rotation. These bearing members 33 are affixed to the supporting pedestals or blocks 3| and to the shaft 32 so as to be themselves nonrotatable. Said bearing members 33 are provided with peripheral flanges 34 to abut or lap the end walls I2 of the drum or cylinder, and with concentric inwardly directed annular flanges 35 upon which the respective ends of the internal walls Il of the drum or cylinder are journaled. Preferably said peripheral flanges 34 and annular flanges 35 are respectively provided with antifriction bearings, such e. g. as the roller bearings 36 and 31, whereby the drum or cylinder is not only supported for desired rotation about its axis, but also against axial displacement.

The means for serving operating current to the heater devices, in one illustrative form thereof as shown, comprises a suitably located positive slip ring 38, and a suitably located negative slip ring 39, each said slip ring being supported from the shaft 32 by a carrier frame 4U. Each slip ring is suitably electrically insulated from its carrier frame 4l), and is provided with a binding post or terminal connection 4l to which a current carrying conductor may be connected. A cable `42, containing ingoing and outgoing conductors 43 and 44, is led from a source of electrical energy through a bearing member 33 into the interior of the drum or cylinder. The ingoing or positive conductor 43 is connected with the positive slip ring 38, and the outgoing or negative conductor 44 is connected with the negative slip ring 39. Longitudinally aligned heater devices of the respective groups thereof are preferaby connected in series by intermediate conductors 45, as shown in Fig. 2. The binding post means 23 of each positive terminal bracket 20 of the group of heater devices adjacent to the positive slip ring 38 is provided with a current take olf brush 4d which rides around said slip ring 38. Similarly, the binding post means 24 of each negative terminal bracket 22 of the group of heater devices adjacent to the negative slip ring 39 is provided with a current take off brush 41 which rides around said slip ring 39 (see Figs. 2 and 3). By this arrangement, flow of operating current from a suitable source is established through the several heater devices during rotation of the drum or cylinder.

The bearing members 33, by which the drum or cylinder is rotatably supported, are provided with man-holes 48, normally closed by detach able cover plates 49. Access to the interior of the drum or cylinder may be had through said man-holes 4B for inspection, repair or adjustment of the heater devices and the current service means therefor.

When the snow melting apparatus is sized -for use in street and road clearing, the framework is arranged for suitable coupled connection with an automotive vehicle 50, so that the drum or cylinder may be propelled thereby. In such case, the automotive vehicle is provided with a suitably constructed connecting framework 5I, and the rear end of the drum or cylinder framework is preferably pivotally coupled to the latter at 52 (see Fig. l), so that the drum or cylinder can be raised and lowered as may be desired. When operating on deep snow or drifts, it is of advantage to be able to raise the drum or cylinder so as to better attack the same. Any suitable means may be provided for so manipulating the drum or cylinder. One illustrative arrangement for such purpose, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a crane 53 which is mounted on the automotive vehicle so as to overhang the drum or cylinder supporting framework. To the drum or cylinder supporting framework is affixed a suitably located coupler eye 54 to which a snatch hook 55 of a lift cable 55 may be coupled. Said lift cable is run over a crane pulley 5l and a guide pulley 53, the latter being mounted on the drum or cylinder framework, and thence to a power oper ated winch (not shown) which is carried by the automotive vehicle.

In street or road clearing operations, it may be desired, especially when attacking deep snow or drifts, to provide means for revolving the drum or cylinder by power. In such case, a propeller shaft 59 is mounted on the drum or cylinder supporting framework, and is provided with a drive pinion 60 adapted to engage and drive a gear ring 6| which is affixed to the drum or cylinder. Said propeller shaft 59 is coupled by a universal coupling connection 62 to a power shaft 63 which is adapted to be driven by the power plant of the automotive vehicle.

In order to reduce loss of heat by radiation, the upper side of the drum or cylinder is preferably enclosed in a covering hood 64 including any suitable heat insulation material. This covering hood 04 is secured by its ends to the drum or cylinder framework.

When the snow melting apparatus is arranged to be propelled and operated by an automotive vehicle, the latter will be provided with a power driven electric generator (not shown), which Will operate to supply electrical energy to the heater devices of the drum or cylinder through the described current service means. When current is supplied to the heater devices, the current is caused to flow between the positive and negative electrodes and 26 through the surrounding water le, so that the temperature of the water is quickly raised. It has been found that the heater devices will, in operation, easily maintain a water temperature ranging from 180 to 200 F. If desired, any well-known thermostatic control means may be provided for preventing the water from reaching the boiling point, and for holding the temperature not in excess of 200 F. When the apparatus is in use, the heat of the water will, by conduction through the external wall I0 of the drum or cylinder, be applied to the snow over which the drum or cylinder is rolled, `with rapid melting effect upon said snow.

When the snow melting apparatus is sized for propulsion by hand, the supporting framework of the drum or cylinder will be suitably modified to facilitate such propulsion. In such case, electric current for operation of the heater devices may be served from a house service outlet through a cable of suflicient length to permit of a range of progress of the apparatus suicient to cover the area of operation.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and details of the above described snow melting apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention as dened by the herefollowing claims. It is therefore intended that the constructions shown and described are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for the purposes described, a hollow roller having spaced external and internal circumferential walls and connecting end walls adapted to define an annular liquid containing chamber, electrical heater means of the liquid-incircuit type submerged in the liquid content of said chamber, means to serve operating current to said heater means, and a framework having means for supporting the roller subject to tractional rotation, said framework being adapted to be connected to an automotive vehicle by which the roller is to be propelled.

2. In a snow remover apparatus, a hollow roller having spaced external and internal circumferential walls and connecting end walls defining an annular liquid containing chamber, draft means to support the roller subject to tractional I rotation, electrical heater means of the liquid-incircuit type supported `within said chamber and submerged in the liquid content thereof, and means to serve electric current to said heater means.

3. in a snow remover apparatus as defined in claim 2, including an enclosure means of heat insulating character supported by said draft means to enclose the upper part of the roller.

4. In a snow remover apparatus, a hollow roller having spaced external. and internal circumferential walls and connecting end walls defining an annular liquid containing chamber, a shaft including bearing means for rotatably supporting the roller, draft means to carry said shaft and the roller whereby to mount the latter for tractional rotation, electric heater means of the liduid-in-circuit type supported by the internal walls of the roller within its chamber and submerged in the liquid content of the latter, and means to serve electric current to said heater means comprising current charged slip rings mounted on said shaft within the hollow interior of the roller, and said heater means having electrical terminals certain of which are provided with brushes to ride on said slip rings.

5. In a snow remover apparatus as defined in claim 4, including an enclosure means of heat insulating character supported by said draft means to enclose the upper part of the roller.

HARRY SCHMITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

